I was compelled to share this after seeing the story on the news today about the cougar spotted wandering around the campus of a local school. This past winter, we had a wildcat visitor of our own. A Bobcat had decided to make our backyard its daily pathway to and from his daily outings. I saw this cat several times and it seemed to show up at the same time each day. I decided I would be ready with my camera and peered out my kitchen window to see if I could catch this elusive animal. Sure enough... right on schedule, there he was.

I called the local Wildlife organization as advised by the operator at the 9*1*1 switchboard. I was told that there was nothing that they could do to control these wildcats in residential neighborhoods. The person at the wildlife foundation advised me to contact them each time I had a sighting so they could keep track of their whereabouts. They also gave me some tips about what to do if I ever came face-to-face with the animal. We also have coyotes roaming around our here too. We have lost several pets to these coyotes since we moved here, including our beloved cat and several rabbits. In fact, one time a neighbor spotted a coyote walking down our neighborhood street around 3pm, which is when the kids are walking home from the bus stop.

It all comes down to the fact that we have invaded their habitat and that we need to respect that. I would advise everyone to learn about what to do if you ever encounter a wildcat or a coyote. Talk to your children and be sure they understand the do’s and don’ts in dealing with these wild animals.